An archaic Greek finger ring (circa late VIth century BC to early Vth century BC) with an elongated diamond shaped flattened bezel depicting a lion running from left to right with its head bent looking over its back; the bezel is surrounded by a notched (rope) border. The ring was seemingly made from a bar of metal that was round in cross section, bent back to form the shank and soldered in the back. Traces of the solder can still be seen. A quantitative/qualitative analysis of the alloy has not been made.
For similar examples, see:
1. Marshall, F.H. Catalogue of the Finger Rings Greek, Etruscan, Roman in the Departments of Antiquities, British Museum, London, 1907 (1968 re-print): page 8, No. 35, Plate I; and page 166, No. 1031, Plate XXVI.
2. Boardman, John Greek Gems and Finger Rings, Abrams, New York, 1970: pages 156, 157; Numbers 429 and 430 (Group F).
3. Battke, H. & Regner, O.F. Rings aus vier Jahrthausanden, Schmuckmuseum, Pforzheim/Frankfurt, 1963: Number 15.
4. Musee du Louvre, Jewelry from the Campana Collection, AGER Bj 1344 (silver).
5. Laffineur, Robert Collection Paul Canellopoulos (XV), Bijous en or Grecs et Romaines in Bulletin de correspondence hellenique, Vol. 104, 1980: page 387, No. 65 (figs 68 and 69).
